Police ID embezzlement suspect as apparent suicide victim

Riverhead police and Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office vehicles were parked outside the home on Kerry Court Wednesday morning as police investigated the death of a man there. (Credit: Carrie Miller)

Riverhead Police said in a statement that around 9:30 a.m., police and Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps were called to the scene of the house, located at Kerry Court. A subsequent investigation identified Joseph Simonelli, 55, as the deceased.

Chief David Hegermiller said Wednesday morning he did not believe there were any signs of foul play related to the death and detectives later said the deceased was believed to have committed suicide.

Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived on scene at the Kerry Court house around noon on Wednesday.

The property is listed as belonging to Mr. Simonelli, the man previously accused of stealing $10 million from his family’s HVAC company.